Hey friends! I’m back and kicking off a new episode—and a new tradition—by giving you a peek into what’s happening in my world before we dive into today’s guest convo.

Right now, I’m fresh off an epic trip to Brazil! I spent time in the Pantanal region (which honestly, I hadn’t even heard of before I went), and it felt like being on a South American safari. Think: jaguars, capybaras, Brazilian cowboys, and way too many mosquitoes. I got eaten alive, but it was still 1000% worth it.

Now I’m home in Wisconsin, soaking up the gorgeous May weather (yes, this is why we live here). But I’m not home for long, I’m heading to New York this week for WITS (Women in Travel Summit), and later this month I’ll be in Denver for Adventure Elevate. I’m excited to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and feel reinspired. After that? It’s off to Greece for sailing season!

Now, today’s guest. I’m so thrilled to welcome Angela Gentile to the show. She’s a speaker, storyteller, educator, podcast host of Empowered Millennials, and founder of the Single Child-Free Community. Angela’s all about helping single and child-free people feel empowered, not shamed, for choosing to live life on their own terms.

I first discovered Angela when I was searching for child-free podcasts (shoutout to the algorithm for doing its thing). I knew immediately we had to connect. She said yes to my cold email, we vibed instantly on her show, and now—we’re about to meet IRL on my Cuba trip this winter. Even better? We’re also co-hosting a group trip to Morocco for other badass single, child-free women.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Brazil surprised me (and why you should go)
• What it’s like to be chased by a hippo
• Angela’s journey to choosing a child-free life and never looking back
• The story behind her viral TikTok and accidental global community
• The freedom of solo travel—and the emotional labor of doing life on one income
• Why being single and child-free doesn’t mean lonely or less-than—it can actually mean limitless

Angela brings so much fire and honesty to this conversation. Whether you’re child-free by choice, curious about it, or just want to hear two women talk about living life unapologetically-you’re gonna love this one.

More on Angela:

Angela Gentile is a speaker, educator, podcast host, and community builder known for her bold voice and unwavering commitment to helping single and child-free people feel seen, supported, and empowered. As the host of Empowered Millennials and founder of the Single Child-Free Community, Angela creates transformative spaces for those living life outside traditional norms.

With humor, heart, and no-nonsense honesty, Angela challenges societal “shoulds” and champions authenticity—especially for women carving their own path. Whether she’s speaking on stage, going viral on TikTok, or organizing global meetups, she’s on a mission to make sure no one feels like they have to explain their life choices ever again.

Angela lives in Boston, loves a strong aisle seat, and will absolutely talk your ear off about her husky, travel mishaps, and the freedom that comes with choosing yourself.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

[Cuba: Dec–Jan] – Angela’s coming too!

[Morocco: Spring] – Hosted by me + Angela for single child-free women

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening

This episode has been a long time coming, and I’m so glad you’re here for it. I’ve been wanting to dig into the topic of responsible travel for a while now, but honestly—it’s a tough one. There are so many layers: overtourism, greenwashing, consumerism, and global politics. Even as a professional traveler, I often feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to do it “right.”

That’s why I’m so excited to share this conversation with Yulia Denisyuk. She’s not only an award-winning travel journalist and photographer, but she’s also someone I deeply admire. We met last fall in Okinawa, Japan during a press trip, and I was immediately drawn to her values and perspective. When I saw her speak again at a recent conference in New York, she brought the entire room to tears. She’s a powerful storyteller with a rare mix of vulnerability and strength.

In this episode, Yulia and I talk candidly about:

• What “responsible travel” actually means today
• How she went from serving in the U.S. military to becoming a globally recognized journalist
• The complexity of living in the U.S. as an immigrant—and how that affects how we see the world
• The often unseen impacts of mass tourism and why we need to think twice before booking that cruise or all-inclusive
• What it really means to travel humbly and with intention
• Who really benefits from tourism—and who often doesn’t

We also talk about what it’s like to work in media now (spoiler: it's not what it used to be), and why storytelling continues to be at the heart of what Yulia does—from journalism to photography to podcasting.

This isn’t a lighthearted episode, but it is a real and necessary one. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your impact as a traveler, or unsure how to align your travel choices with your values, this conversation is for you.

Thanks for being here. I’m so glad we’re having these kinds of conversations on the podcast.

— Laura

More About Yulia Denisyuk

Yulia is an award-winning travel photographer, journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Time, Condé Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, and more. She’s the founder of Going Places, an independent journalism initiative, and teaches through her platform Travel Media Lab. She’s also based in Chicago with her pup, Leo.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Yulia’s work: https://yuliadenisyuk.com
• Explore her storytelling platform: https://travelmedialab.com
• Join my travel community & get updates: https://www.lauraericson.com/

Hey friends! I’m so excited to welcome you to the very first episode of my new podcast, Type Two Travel. If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to build a business around travel, why I’ve chosen to live a child-free life filled with global adventure, or what the heck "type two fun" even means... this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m joined by my marketing manager (and podcast co-pilot!) Lauren, who flips the script and interviews me about how all of this started—my business, my travel style, my favorite mosquito-infested memories, and what it’s like to plan group trips for adventurous strangers.

We talk about:

• The very real difference between solo travel and group travel (and why I love both... kinda)
• Why I’m obsessed with culturally immersive travel and saying no to tourist traps
• How a random trip to Colombia with a total stranger turned into a full-time business
• The not-so-glamorous truth behind running group trips
• Why I picked the name Type Two Travel—and what it has to do with suffering, joy, and stories worth telling

Plus, we chat about how this show will work moving forward, including:

• Updates from wherever I’ve just landed
• Candid convos with fellow travelers + friends
• Honest behind-the-scenes stories about what it’s really like to build a travel biz from scratch

Whether you’re travel-curious, a group trip alum, or just someone who’s tired of waiting on flaky friends to finally commit to that dream trip—this pod is for you.

Thanks for being here from day one.

• Follow me on Instagram: @lauraericksongrouptrips
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraerickson.com

Join host Laura Ericson on "Type 2 Travel" - your weekly companion for authentic travel adventures. From hilarious language mix-ups to transformative cultural encounters, Laura and her diverse guests share real, unfiltered stories from the road. Whether you're a solo explorer seeking community, a conscious traveler navigating sustainable tourism, or simply dreaming of your next escape, this podcast delivers practical tips and heartfelt tales. Dive into local perspectives, troubleshoot travel SOS moments, and discover how travel shapes not just where we go, but who we become. Listen in as Laura guides you through the art of meaningful exploration, one story at a time.